Ice cube machine



Jan. 3, 1956 w. A. AMES ICE'CUBE MACHINE Filed June 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MR0 A. /4ME6 BY WWJ A 7- TORNE Ks Jan. 3, 1956 w. A. AMES 2,729,970

ICE CUBE. MACHINE Filed June 28, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR. Vl ARD A AMEs H6. 2 J WAMWW United States Patent "ice 2 729 070 JCE CUBEMACHIN'E Ward A. 'Ame's, Faribault, Minn. ApplicationJunei 23, 21952,, Serial "No. 296,189

Claims. (Cl.*62=1'07 Thislinvention relates to new and useful improvements ,inJice cube machines and more particularly .to newaand useful improvements in ice cube making machines or the type adapted to progressively rdepositice .in an open ended inverted cup.

With the advent of carbonated and other itype's of beverages on themarketin increasingiquantities, -there has arisen a demandvfor a greatvolumetoflicecubes to .ice these drinks. Thertrade andthe public hasrequired ice cubes in ever increasing quantity. Inor derit o meet this demand, manufacturershave endeavored to ifind ice 1 cube making machines which will efiiciently and speedily struction of maximum :efliciency, ieconom'y, lease of operation and assembly;

It is a --further object ,of .this invention to; provide an ice .cube makingmachine which (will provide ice .cubes ,o'fsexceptional .clarityfand quality; V H

his a tfurthe'robject of tHisSinventiOn..to..provide (an ice cube making rinachine where'in ice ,cubes are ,continuously buiunp bya'ecoating of iv'vater supplied f'to a refrigerated l surface Tfroma suppl tank [and wherein. any excess water will return t'ofthe supply tank .to p're-cool said supply tank;

.It is-a further object offthe'lp'reseiit'"riventionto provide an 'ice cube making machine wh ein the recelptacles for freezing ithelice cubes are .eoheiaa'm the same unit housingia's the wafer snp i and the water is directed upwardly iiito the icecube contaiiiing. cups;

It is affuftherobj'ect 'ofj'thisiiriventionli'to' provide r-an ice cube making 'inachi'iieihavingfinverted'icercube containing cups and a 'n'o'vel,troubleifreemeansfor directing .a stream of water upwardly. into 'said1cups;

"It'is still a.-fiir"ther object of thisTinrZen'tion .to,provide an ice .cube making machineh a iii'gahdve'l apparatus for directing aflow of water upwar'dlytin'toafs'eries of inverted cups, said apparatus 'being unsu ceptime to freezing'or'otherwiseinterrupting said flow "of liquid;

Itis still "a" further object of 'thisfinvention'to provide an "ice cube -machine-having'irivefted cups fofthfifdr'lhatioinof ice'cn-bes "therein which isof large'vdlume cai pacity and forms 'ice cubes-quickly 1 and which is simple,

'endura-ble and eflicient-iii-operation; I

:It: is still: a fur'ther object of 'thisinvention "to provide vrant-ice cube. machineifor; manufacturing a plritiful-=supply I of dry-ice cubes;

Itiis -a-1further 'objecttof this invention to tprovid'eaan ice cube making machine (having .cin-verted cups :for tthe .formationioficescubes .-therein, .saids;inverted eupsthaving 2,729,070 Patented Jan. 3, 1956 -breaking "the vacuum seal formed in ,such cup whereby ltherice a-cube may be readily discharged therefrom;

Further objectsresidein the details of construction of the ice .cubeiconta'inin'g cups, of the'discs for directing a =strearneof water thereto andin the relative novel arrangement-and containment of :the various parts;

:Othen-and'further objects :of the presentinvention :316 those inherent and apparent-in the apparatus as, pictured, 'dGSGlibGd andtclaimed.

This invention .willebe described withreference to :the drawingsin-whichcorresponding numerals refer to corresponding parts and in which:

.Figure 1 is :a sideelevation partially in section of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken along-the line and in the direction of the arrows 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a substantially horizontal section taken :along-ttheline and inthe direction of the arrows 3-3 of "Figure \1 and'showing the positioning of the ice cube cups and the refrigerant supply thereto; v

V Figure *4 is an enlarged vertical sectionalviewion the :line AJ4of Figure 3 of two of the ice icube cups of Fi u :1

Figure 5.is;ahorizonta1 section on the line 5-5 of J Eigure {2 through two-of the vice cube-cups looking upwardly into the interior-of the cup; and

.Eiguret6 is a fragmentary plan view of the ice cube cupsand rubber shield showing the directionof flow tof harvestingtwater vbetween the cups. A Referring now to the drawings vand particularly -t Figure 1, there is shown a container for the ;ice cube machine generally designated 10. This container is prol 'tvidedfwith arrear wallll, a forward bottom wall -12 and a forward top wall .13. Top vfront wall .13 and-bottom are secured together to form a closedbottomtovcontain front Wall I2 ai' efs paced apart to provide an aperture :14 tuerebe'tween. 'The vcon'tainer is, provided vwith ar -floor or bo'ttoinf15, atop 16 and a pair ofzside walls '17 and 18, the .s'ide .wallsvbeing of configuration best-shown fortwall IBi'nFigu're Z1. The-bottom wall -15 and the frontwand rear walls 11and"12, as well as the side walls 17 and .18,

the water (or other liquid) W. This closed bottom "maybe formed 'by welding the wallstogethervorby ,securing'them with bolts and nutsandgaskets inbetween 'oi: -aiiy other well'known or conventionalrrnea'ns. .It is *noteii'thatthroughout this specification the term .Water isused to denote the liquid being frozen, but it is tobe understood-that 'otherliquids may be frozen within-the -spirit'and scope of this invention and are considered bearing blocks 23 and,24 which are afiixed to walls.18

and 17 respectively and a pluralityo'f discs 25. Each of the-discs 25 is provided with an integral collar'26 which iisssecured t'o shaft -22 by a set'screw. It is noted that t other-means of securing the discs 25-to-the shaft maylbe iusedzifzdesired.

tfi'achronetof the. discs :25 is centered beneath afile of 3 ice cube cups generally designated 30, as is shown best in Figures 1 and 2. Thus, with reference to Figure 2, there are ten ice cube cups placed in rank and a disc 25 (ten discs in all) centered therebeneath in each instance.

A supporting web 31 is provided on wall 12 which serves to support a grille chute 32, the forward end of which extends through aperture 14. Grille chute 32 comprises a number of inclined rods 33 fixedly attached to a forward transverse rod 34 and to a rearward transverse rod 35. Rod 35, as may best be seen with reference to Figure l, is afiixed to rear wall 11 so that the chute 32 is supported by the junction of rod 35 to wall 11 at the rearward end and by resting on the flange or Web 31 on the forward end thereof. As may be noted particularly with reference to Figure 2, the inclined rods 33 are positioned so as to provide openings therebetween so that a fan-shaped stream of water W1W5 is directed from any one of the discs 25 and will pass therebetween. Rods 33 are also spaced sufficiently closely together so that any cube formed in cup 30 will be engaged thereby and will be guided thereover, as shown in Figure 1 wherein the cube is designated C, for the guided ejection therefrom.

Bottom front wall 12 is spaced outwardly from top front wall 13 a slight distance so that any water dripping downwardly from the edge of front wall 13 will drip into the inside of the bottom of the container and into the level of the Water W.

Positioned by screws on side walls 17 and 18, as shown best in Figure l, is a plate 37 which serves to provide additional support for grill 32 and to prevent any excess water from discs 25 being thrown outwardly through aperture 14 formed by top front wall 13 and bottom front wall 12 and side walls 17 and 18.

As is seen by reference to Figure 1, the discs 25 rotate in the direction of the arrow 40 whereupon water is engaged by the periphery 41 thereof and by virtue of the centrifugal force thrown in the direction of the lines W1W5 of Figure l.

The cups 30, as may best been seen with reference to Figure 3, are situated in ten ranks of five files, and are joined together throughout each rank. At one end of the first rank is provided a refrigerant inlet tube 40 and at the other end of the last rank is provided a refrigerant outlet tube 41. Joining the first and second rank is a curved conduit 42, joining the second and third rank is a curved conduit 43, joining the third and fourth rank is a curved conduit 44 and joining the fourth and fifth rank is a curved conduit 45.

These cups and conduits are usually made of copper but may be made of aluminum or steel, etc., if necessary. The cups and conduits are arranged so as to provide a continuous channel for the flow of refrigerant from inlet 40 and outlet 41. A pair of brackets 46 and 47 are positioned on walls 17 and 18 respectively to support the plurality of cups 30 and do so by engaging conduits 42 and 44, 43 and respectively. Other means may be provided for supporting or securing the ice cube cups 30 in the top of the machine, if desired.

Positioned above the cups 30 is a layer of insulation 50 which serves to keep the cold in and the heat out. Top 16 serves to support the refrigeration unit generally designated 51 although it may be positioned remotely of the ice cube machine if desired.

Referring to Figure I particularly, it will be noted that i the ranks of the cups 30, beginning with the back rank 51 and progressing to the front rank 55 are positioned on an are substantially equivalent to the mean radius of the tangential streams of water W1-W5'.

Positioned at each corner of Walls 17 and 18 are jets 56A and 56B respectively. These jets are secured therein by rubber grommets 57 but may be otherwise secured if desired. These jets are positioned as shown best with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and serve to direc a stream of water, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

Referring now particularly to Figures l-4, each of the cups 30 is set in a rubber shield 58 provided with a plurality of upturned flanges 59, each upturned flange 59 serving to encircle and cooperate with one of the cups 30 for positioning the cup 30 therein. Only the edges of flanges 59 engage cups 30 and thus there is provided a space between flanges as shown in Figure 4. This serves to trap relatively dead air therebetwecn and to serve as a dead air space so that no ice bridges will be formed between cups. Disposed at the rear end of the sheet 58 (rightward with reference to Figure 1) is a downturned flange 60 which serves to position the sheet 58 against wall 11. It may be noted that there is an aperture 61 between the forward edge 62 of sheet 58 and wall 13. This allows water or other liquid to run thereoff and to drip from edge 61 into the water W. As shown with reference to Figures 1 and 3, the sheet 58 is maintained in position on the cup solely by frictional engagement of the flanges 59 therewith. However, if it is desired, other supporting means for the sheet 58 may be used without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring specifically to Figures 3 and 6, it will be seen that the rubber sheet 58 has provided on the upper surface thereof a plurality of protuberances 75. These protuberances are of button-like shape and are positioned between each of the ranks and are off-set with respect to each of the apertures for cups 30 so as to be positioned diagonally between any two cups. This is for the purpose that when water is ejected from the nozzles 56A and 56B it will flow over the top of the cups and over the downward are formed by the sheet 58 and drip from edge 62 down into the water W of the tank. As the water flows over the arc defined by sheet 58 it is guided by the protuberances 75 so as to flow between the cups in the direction of the arrows 77 and 78. Thus, it will be seen that any water emitted from the nozzles 56A and 568 will thus flow downwardly over the arc of sheet 58 and be guided by protuberances 75 between all of the cups. Thus, when it is desired to defrost the cups for the harvest of the cubes, the control valve for nozzles 56A and 56B is turned on so that relatively warm water is emitted therefrom and flowing around the exterior shell 79 of cup 30 communicates heat to the cube therein for melting the surface of the cube from the surface of inner shell 63 of cup 30. The protuberances are shown as round button-like protuberances but, with particular reference to Figure 6, a square protuberance 76 is shown which works equally well and may be substituted for any of the round protuberances. Other configurations such as ovals, etc., could also be used.

If it is desired, edge 62 of sheet 58 may be extended to contact the surface of front wall 13 of the tank and thus forming a water seal, so that water from nozzles 56A and 56B cannot flow downwardly into the water W in the tank. An escape port of any nature is then provided to carry off the water flowing from nozzles 56A and 56B and around cups 30. This may be provided equally within the spirit and scope of this invention.

Referring particularly to Figure 4, the cups 30 are of the configuration shown and are provided with an outer shell 79 and an inner shell 63. Outer shell 79 is of the cross-sectional configuration shown therein and is provided with a central depression 65 in which an aperture 66 is centered. Inner shell 63 is provided with a peripheral edge flange 67, a peripheral enlarged portion 68 and a central extension 69 having a hole 70 therein, extension 69 and hole 70 adapted for cooperation with depression 65 and hole 66 of the outer shell 79. The inner shell 63 abuts outer shell 79 by contact with the enlarged portion 68 of inner shell 63. The inner and the outer shells 63 and 79 are brazed or otherwise secured at this juncture.

' Extension 69 and depression 65 are also brazed together.

sEachlof-theouter.shellsi79lis provided with two-bulged {through nozzle 81 to theilevel showniby thewaterWQin Figure 1, a level approximatelyhalf-way between lthe axis of the shaft 22 and the bottomedge of-the. peripheral ,disciZS. rMotor ZO -is. started landdiscs .2'5 are r'otated in thediretion .of thearrowI40 ar'id "the' wa ter upwardly. intocupsf 30 in a fan-shaped stream indicated by the components W-1-"W5. Platetfl serves to exclude any water lfrom being thrown lzheflnom aperture .of the -machine :through which ft he critics are harvested, -thefbottom edge'Efiange '31 of which also s'erv'es't'o support thergrille 32. fRefrigerant .-s uppliedjby "the refrigera- =tion. unit 51 and is. provided through inlet 40 through the ports 720f the cups 30 andibetween 'theinn'er'andonter "shll1 79 and 63 thereof throug'h th'e conduits 42, 43, 14

-and 45 and the various r-anks or cu'ps"51{55 as will be understood with reference to Figures 1 ahdSand'thence through the outlet 41 back to ther'fiige'ratitin' unit. Thus, as the water from component streams WI-W5 progressively strikes'ranks 51-55 respectively, there is built up on the inner shell 63 of the cups of.each rank, an ice ila-yer which gradually "grows't'o a jflillcube. [Any excess waterfrom "the water stream W1 W5 'will 'fall-idbwm wardly 'into "the water'Wih th'e'cbn amer and thujs precool it. "The position of "from WiillIS beingliiiterijor of "frontwall-12 will insure that anyzwater adhered-thereto willidrip back into the co'ritaineriristead of ontwarm "thereof.

After the cubes have been formed in cups 30, the motor is shut off stopping the spinning of discs 25, and a valve is thrown in refrigeration unit 51, as is well understood in the art to by-pass the expansion point thereof and provide hot gases to the cups 30 to melt the outer wall of the cube and hence severance adherence to the inner wall 63 of the cup 30. This utilization of a warm liquid or warm gas from the refrigeration unit forms no part of the invention per se and hence will not be described in greater detail. A further utilization of warm liquid to defrost may be had with reference to Patent Nos. 1,487,863, to Stewart; 2,054,074 to Field; 2,349,451 to Gilliam; or 2,117,658 to Motts.

At the same time a supply of relatively warm water is provided to flow through nozzles 56A and 56B which flows in the direction as indicated by lines 82 and 83 and arrows 77 and 78 downwardly around the outer shell 79 of cup 30, thus aiding in the instant defrosting of the periphery of the ice cubes.

The provision of the apertures 66-70 in the top of the ice cube cups 30 allows any vacuum which may be formed therein to be quickly broken and the cubes will drop from the cups 30 down onto the grille 32 and slide therealong as shown in Figure l for cubes C.

The motor 20 is then re-energized to start the flow of water from discs to the cups 30. Simultaneously therewith, nozzles 56A and 56B are shut off and no more water is emitted therefrom, and the flow of refrigerant is once more started through inlet 40, cups and outlet 41, and the cycle is repeated.

The upward spray W1W5 of water from the discs 25 aerates the water and insures that the ice cubes are made progressively downwardly and consequently extremely clear. When they are harvested as described previously, the action of gravity carries them down onto grille 32 from whence they pass through aperture 14 and may be collect ed in a -container of.any sortgdesired. .As.the .cubes prdg'ress tdownward along ,grille I32 and its the spra -W1--W5hasbeen stopped,.the.rrioisture on the surf ce .of theclibes evaporates andithe.cubesarerlatively dry whencdllected'in the receptacle. Consequently,.they do not tend to stick together, whichiisa desirable feature ,The provision of the unique ice cube forming cup '30 with theinner and outer.shellsl79andl63.andcooperating depressions and extensions 65aiid 69.as well asftheicooperatin-gillange 68 provides iaicu'p whic hassures ease and inexpensiveness of manufacturing and the depressions 65 and extensions '69 provide a convenient way -of insuring that the inner and outer walls arepos'itio'ned in cooperating position. "The provisions of the protuberanees 72 and;por'ts 73 allow the plurality of taps to 'b'e positioned in sequence for the new or refrigerant therethrough and allows the ready replacement aran individualcup should it become damaged or'faulty. Fur- "therrnore, theconfigura ticin of theinn'erand outershells ,provides extreme easeof ice cube manufacture and hatvesting.

"If desired, the starting and stopping of motor 20 may betaccompli shed automatically by a timer as'may'be the sequence of water ejection from nozzles T56A and 56B and of refrigerant flow through the conduits and cups; ortherinostatic means'may be used either withor without a tiinerin conjunction for determining the rate of flow of :re'f'rige'ran't through the cups and consequently the freezing time.

The lwater flowing from nozzles '56A and 56B serves to 'meter ani excess of water W in the" bottom of the-tank and "thelevel of water W may vary'from theilev'elfshown fin"Figure11. However, it is desirable in operation that "thei waterby'kept somewhat clos'e to this'level'for maxir'nuin 'efficiency. Anoverflow 'valve may be provided if desired to keep the waterlevel constant.

.A's many widely differing embodiments of this inven- 'tionfmayfbe made without departing from the spirit .and

"scope 'bf this in'vention, "it is to be understood thatI'I do 'rrotlimit myself 'to "the specific embodiments disclosed herein.

What I claim is:

1. An ice cube machine comprising in combination a tank having a front wall provided with an aperture therein and a rear wall for retaining a supply of liquid at the bottom thereof, a plurality of discs having portions rotatable progressively into and out of contact with said liquid, a plurality of inverted cups centered above each of said discs and positioned thereover for receiving liquid tangentially thrown from said disc, said cups each comprising an inner and outer shell and being connected together for the flow of refrigerant between said inner and outer shell, refrigeration means for causing a flow of refrigerant to flow through said inner and outer shells, means between said discs and said cups for receiving ice cubes which are ejected from said cups, said means being inclined from said rear wall to said front Wall to guide ice cubes thereout, and said front wall above said aperture being parallel to but spaced towards said rear wall from said front wall below said aperture.

2. In an ice making machine having means for directing liquid into an inverted receptacle, means for refrigerating said receptacle for the freezing of said liquid, said inverted receptacle constituting a double walled cup having a chamber around the periphery thereof, a horizontal inlet and outlet for conducting refrigerant therethrough, said outer wall being provided with a depression on the closed end of said cup and said inner Wall being provided with an extension on the closed end of said cup, said extensions and depressions abutting one another and an aperture provided therethrough.

3. In an ice cube machine comprising in combination a tank having a front wall provided with an aperture therein, and a rear wall for retaining a supply of liquid at the bottom thereof, a plurality of inverted receptacles anaegoro aperture being parallel to but spaced toward said rear wall a distance from said front wall below said aperture, and baffle means precluding the spraying of water through said aperture.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that said incline means comprises a grille chute.

5. An ice cube machine comprising in combination a plurality of inverted receptacles each having a wall to which refrigerant may be supplied, means for supplying refrigerant to said walls and rotating means for directing a stream of water into said receptacles, the improvement comprising a planar sheet of resilient material having apertures in which said plurality of inverted receptacles are positioned, and jet means positioned above said planar sheet for directing fluid over said planar sheet and said inverted receptacles.

6. An ice cube machine comprising in combination a plurality of inverted receptacles, each having a wall to which refrigerant may be supplied, means for supplying refrigerant to said walls and means for directing a stream of water into said receptacles, the improvement comprising an arcuately curved planar sheet of resilient material having one elevated edge and having apertures in which said plurality of inverted receptacles are positioned, jet means positioned above said planar sheet and adjacent said elevated edge for directing fluid over said planar sheet and said inverted receptacles.

7. An ice cube machine comprising in combination a plurality of inverted receptacles, each having a wall to which refrigerant may be supplied, means for supplying refrigerant to said walls and means for directing a stream prising a planar sheet of resilient material having apertures in which said plurality of inverted receptacles are positioned, jet means positioned above said planar sheet for directing fluid over said planar sheet and said inverted receptacles and said planar sheet being provided with a plurality of projections between said receptacles for directing fluid emitted by said jet means against such receptacles.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that said ice cube machine comprises a four-walled compartment and said planar sheet being positioned in abutment with three of said four walls and spaced from said fourth wall.

9. In an ice making machine comprising an inverted receptacle means having a wall to which refrigerant may be supplied, means for supplying refrigerant to said wall and means for directing a stream of water into said receptacle, the improvement comprising said receptacle comprising a cup having an inner and an outer shell and being connected together for the flow of refrigerant between said inner and outer shell, said outer shell having a depression at its closed end and said inner shell having an extension at its closed end cooperating with said depression and cooperating apertures provided therethrough.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 further characterized by the wall of said inner shell adjacent the open mouth of said cup abutting the wall of said outer shell.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,340,721 Whitney Feb. 1, 1944 2,403,275 Gilliam July 2, 1946 2,428,842 Feinberg Oct. 14, 1947 2,542,892 Bayston Feb. 20, 1951 2,612,030 Ploeger Sept. 30, 1952 2,656,686 Bayston Oct. 27, 1953 2,677,249 Mason May 4, 1954 

